Greetings Birders,

I started off the morning at the Rio Bend RV Resort with two gorgeous HOODED ORIOLES. The bridge on the road to Fig Lagoon was out, so I headed uphill into the Lagunas for some mountain birding. Exiting at In-Koh-Pah Road, I drove a half a mile back to Boulder Creek and hiked along the creek bed. Flowers were in profusion and the birds were singing. In short order I got some fine Imperial County targets: CALIFORNIA QUAIL, CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY, and BLACK-THROATED SPARROW. My best bird at this stop was a single BUSHTIT collecting and carrying nesting material.

I then crossed to the east side of I-8 and started up the gravel road to Smuggler's Cave. The first 0.4 miles are fine for a sedan; further travel requires high-clearance. I stopped at 0.6 miles and spent time walking the road, hillsides, and gullies. The rains have really greened up the mountains and here, too, the birds were calling and singing. Two gorgeous SCOTT'S ORIOLES, a CALIFORNIA THRASHER, a CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, several SPOTTED TOWHEES, and raucous ROCK & CACTUS WRENS were all great to see. An unexpected bonus was a silent BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW.

I finally tore myself away at 11:00 a.m. and meandered back through the Imperial Valley on my way home. A stop at Unit 1 turned up several GULL-BILLED TERNS in the distance, north and a bit west of the northern observation platform. A SPOTTED SANDPIPER at the Alamo River Wetlands was #100, my last new bird for the afternoon.

Ebird reports for In-Koh-Pah with photos:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S132386197
https://ebird.org/checklist/S132398292

Good birding!
Henry Detwiler
Yuma, AZ
http://www.southwestbirders.com/